Travis Kelce Praises Parents for Teaching Him Kindness: ‘My Father Would Slap Me Silly If I Was Any Other Way’

Travis Kelce says his friendly personality is thanks to his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce.

Kelce, 34, spoke to reporters during a media availability at the Kansas City Chiefs minicamp on Tuesday, June 11, where he was asked about David Njoku’s recent comment that the tight end is “one of the nicest individuals” he’d ever met.

Kelce competed in and won Njoku’s Celebrity Softball charity game in Eastlake, Ohio, on Saturday, June 8.

The Chiefs star’s face lit up at the mention of Njoku, 27, who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns. “He’s one of a kind, man, and I’m so excited for his upcoming season,” Kelce said of his friend (and fellow NFL tight end) before crediting his Donna and Ed with raising him to be so kind.

“I appreciate him saying those kind words but, you know, I like to say my father would slap me silly if I was any other way,” Kelce said of the compliment.

“Sometimes you just gotta straighten up and do the right things,” the tight end continued. “And I think over the course of my life, I’ve found that being kind and being genuine and being who I am and true to that, it’s the right way to live.”

Kelce added, “My mom and my dad are the reason I’m always a friendly guy.”

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The three-time Super Bowl champion was all smiles during Njoku’s tournament.

In a clip from the event, Kelce was seen throwing down his bat after hitting a home run as he jumped up and down waving his arms at the crowd, while shouting, “Let’s go!”

Also during Tuesday’s presser, the superstar tight end spoke about the continued thrill he gets from football as he prepares for a new season with the Chiefs.

“I know I’m 34 years old, about to be 35, but I have a love to do this right here,” he said of working with his team. “In the middle of the heat in June, I love coming to work every single day and I’m going to do it ’til the wheels fall off.”